Vimukthi Jayasundara’s ‘Spying Stars’ premieres at IFFI 2025
November 24, 2025 09:35 am
Following its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara’s latest feature, Spying Stars, received its Indian premiere with a Red-Carpet Gala Screening at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on 22 November 2025.
The red-carpet ceremony was followed by the film’s screening at Audi 4, INOX, Panjim.
Written and directed by Cannes Caméra d’Or winner Vimukthi Jayasundara, the science-fiction film is produced by Padma Shri award-winning filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda and Vincent Wang.
The stellar cast features Indira Tiwari, Kaushalya Fernando, Samanalee Fonseka, and Saumya Liyanage, Hidaayath Hazeer, Shreepura Mithra.
The film is scheduled for release in Sri Lanka in March 2026.
Set in a dystopian future plagued by “Illvibe” — a pandemic caused by machine dominance —the sci-fi drama, a France/India/Sri Lanka co-production, follows scientist Anandi as she visits Hanuman Island to perform last rites for her father.
“‘Spying Stars’ is a liberation film that is spiritual in nature,” the director explains. “It asks one question: in a time of pervasive voyeurism and technological control, how do we retain our humanity?”
The film made its world premiere in competition at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in September.
Jayasundara has established himself as a major voice in international cinema, notably winning the Caméra d’Or at Cannes for his debut feature “The Forsaken Land” (2004).
His subsequent films including “Between Two Worlds” (2009) have screened at prestigious festivals including Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and Toronto.
